Abstract Scientists state that in recent years, the level of soil contamination worldwide has significantly increased, due to atmospheric deposits, floods, agricultural, industrial activities, and mining. Soil contamination is a widespread issue that negatively impacts the functions and processes of soil microorganisms. Heavy metals are significant factors of soil pollution, posing a threat to ecosystem functions due to their toxicity, persistence, and ability to bioaccumulate. The soil hosts diverse communities of microorganisms with specific metabolic capacities. Some microorganisms contribute to the decomposition of organic matter by interacting with toxic metals, while others participate in the formation of natural nanoparticles, thereby reducing the toxicity of heavy metals. Microorganisms can be used to immobilize heavy metals, but their effectiveness depends on various parameters such as soil type, chemical composition, pH, temperature, and moisture. Although microorganisms can be used in bioremediation, their activity is influenced by soil parameters. Understanding microorganisms‘ properties and operational parameters is essential for their successful application in soil bioremediation processes. To support further experimental studies, the Visual MINTEQ computer program was applied as a modelling tool to evaluate the behaviour and distribution of cadmium, lead, and copper in soil under different environmental conditions such as pH and temperature. These simulations do not replace microbial research but provide essential baseline information, helping to identify potentially hazardous soil conditions and to design more effective experiments on microorganisms in bioremediation could become one of the main solutions for combating soil contamination and achieving environmental sustainability.
Vitkauskaitė et al. (Thu,) studied this question.